26 Jun A brief history of essential oils, part 1

Since ancient times, from the beginning of recorded history, the plant kingdom has provided rare and powerful extracts and essences that have long been prized for their beauty-enhancing, medicinal, aromatic and therapeutic value. Many plants have been the basis for herbal and botanical medicines and remedies for thousands of years, and are the root of today’s pharmaceuticals. The earliest essential oils usage evidence occurs in the period of 3000 – 2500 B.C. Usually the Egyptians are given credit for being the first to use aromatic extracts for beauty care, spiritual and physical well-being. However, it is believed that essential oil-like extracts were also being used in China and India at nearly the same time.

Join me in this 3-part series as we travel around the globe and examine a brief history of essential oils…

EGYPT

The Egyptians placed a great value on aromatic oils and even included 35 alabaster jars for the oils in the King Tutankhamen’s tomb. They were using essential oils for medicinal benefits, beauty care, spiritual enhancement, and in literall all aspects of their daily life.

Expensive aromatics and perfumes were worn in Egypt by the ruling families and the priests. Egyptian temple priests – the doctors of the day, used a variety of aromatic balms, resins and powders in many different ways for both religious and medicinal purposes. Many pictorials on temple walls show Egyptian royalty using aromatic oils.

The oils used by the Egyptians were probably animal fats and vegetable oils into which the aromatic essential oils from the plants had been extracted – typically by steeping the plant materials in the hot oils or fats. So they weren’t as concentrated as our modern day steam distilled essential oils but they were still used the same way for their aromatic and therapeutic properties. They would be considered the precursors to pure essential oils. Common aromatics of the Egyptian times include frankincense, myrrh, cedarwood, juniper, spikenard, coriander, henna and origanum.

Egypt owes much of its existence today to the fertile soil around the Nile, it’s literally a source of LIFE for that country! The abundance of food in Egypt is because of the richness of the land. Some of the earliest advances in writing (think papyrus) agriculture, urbanisation and central government originate from Egypt. It was the perfect stage for the innovation of herbal medicine too. Egypt surely influenced neighboring countries by their use of botanicals in everyday life…

GREECE

The Greeks learned a lot about perfumery from the Egyptians. When Herodotus and Democrates visited Egypt in the 4th century BC, they declared that the people were “masters of the art of perfumery”.

Hippocrates, considered the father of modern medicine, is reported to have advised that “the way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day.” He reportedly believed strongly in the medicinal benefit of fumigation with aromatics and used fumigation in the city of Athens to fight off the plague epidemic. A contemporary of Hippocrates, Theophrastus wrote:

It is to be expected the perfumes should have medicinal properties in view of the virtues of their spices. The effect of plasters and of what some may call poultices prove these virtues, since they disperse tumours and abscesses and produce a distinct effect on the body and its interior parts.

ROME

The Romans also used aromatics – even more lavishly than the Greeks did. They bathed with aromatics several times a day, they scented everything with them – their hair, their clothes, their beds, their bodies, their military flags, the walls of their houses and everything else they could think of!

One of my favorite animated comics from childhood was Asterix and Obelix and I would always chuckle at Obelix’s famous catchphrase “Ils sont fous ces remains!” (translated to “These Romans are crazy!).

However their embrace of aromatherapy all makes sense when one considers how preoccupied the Romans were with public health and aesthetics.

Roman soldiers were also known to carry pouches filled with the seeds of aromatic plants on their military campaigns. A prominent Greek physician, doctor for the Roman army, Pedacious Dioscorides, wrote an impressive reference work on herbal medicine and time has proven that the remedies he wrote about are very useful. For example, myrrh is helpful with gum infections; juniper berry is a well-known diuretic; marjoram has some sedative properties; and cypress can be useful in relieving diarrhea.

Check out my next post, as I discuss how essential oils were a core element in Ayurvedic practice for centuries and how other empires also made use of ancient healers’ wisdom.

**Information regarding traditional use of essential oils is for informational purposes only and is not based on modern science. This information should not be construed as expected results from use.

DISCLAIMER

None of the info shared on the website/blog has been evaluated by the FDA, nor is it intended to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat. Only your lifestyle can prevent. Only your BODY can cure or heal. Please use essential oils wisely and as a complement to a healthy lifestyle. You need to seek medical advice where indicated. Use of any of this information denotes your understanding and agreement to the full disclaimer found at: hebaelhakim.com/disclaimer